Window shade cutter



Oct. 28, 1952 R, w, HYDE 2,615,516

wNDow SHADE CUTTER Filed April 29, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l BARREL g E9 twig l TIP 1'o n insulte anexar on annuel. nusun:

cLcTH nEAsuRE v 1m INVENTOR. 10o-f' 0. f/ya BY I @uy /ww v m @o j J TTOK/ES oct. 2s, 1952 R, w, HYDE 2,615,516

WINDOW SHADE cUTfER Filed April 29, 1949 2' SHEETS- SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

Patented ct. 28, 1952 WINDOW SHADE CUTTER Robert W. Hyde, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor 'to Clopay Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application April 29, 1949, Serial No. 90,361

l This invention relates toV a portable hand tool for cutting window shades, particularly paper shades wound upon tubular rollers, by severing both the shade and its roller in a single operation. The device may be used without change for cutting paper or cloth shades wound upon wooden rollers Yin which case the shade material only is severed, or for cutting shade material without rollers by placing a dowel in the rolledv shade for internal support.

Briefly, the device constitutes a cutting head having a rotatable clamping sleeve or chuck v adapted to clamp the rolled shade and roller in longitudinally adjusted position relative to the cutting head which includes a knife arranged to swing in a fixed plane at right angles to the shade to sever its end during rotation.

It has been customary to furnish shades and rollers somewhat oversize for standard window sizes so that they may be trimmed to tindividual windows, which usually vary somewhat from standard size. In the instance of shades wound upon wooden rollers, the shades usually have been trimmed by rolling them in straight condition upon their rollers, removing the round trunnion at the solid end of the roller and sawing or cutting the shade and its roller to a measured length in one operation, then replacing the pin in the trimmed end. This method also may be followed in fitting paper shades wound upon rollers formed of rolled paper or fibrous tubing. However, it is difficult for the average householder or store clerk to perform this operation satisfactorily and with accuracy.

The shade and its roller can be trimmed accurately and quickly with the improved cutter by reason of the clamping sleeve which centers and aligns the shade accurately for rotation relative to the movable knife in a manner similar to the cutting action of a lathe. A fixture of this general nature is disclosed in the patent to Edward Kearney, No. 2,279,046 to which attention is invited. However, the Kearney structure is not designed to sever both the shade and its roller but instead is designed for use in cutting shades wound upon wooden rollers so as to trim the shade cloth only, leaving the roller to -be trimmed by other means.

The principal objects of the invention have been to provide a shade cutter of simplified design which is readily understood and operated by the average householder or clerk, to provide means for feeding the knife into the shade manually so that feed pressure may be varied as required to produce a clean sharp severed edge free of 11 claims. (C1. 164-34) l 2 v waviness or irregularity and to improve the structure and function of the clamping sleeve vfor more convenient operation and moreaccurate centering and alignment of the shadewiththe knife.

The present structure constitutes a cutting head upon which is pivoted` a swinging cutting arm carrying the cutting blade. A handleis secured upon the swinging end of the arm to be' grasped in one hand to feed in .the knife, while the rotatable clamping sleeve is grasped in the other hand and rotated. YThe clamping sleeve is journalled in a very ksimple manner from the 1 cutting head to maintain the shade securely centered and aligned with the knife, during the cutting operation.

In order to avoid mistakes in cutting,v the cutting head includes a cover plate which provides a series of measuring surfaces or steps which vary in distance from the plane of the knife to compensate automatically for several methods of measuring shades. Prior to cutting, the shade is measured from one of several points as disclosed in detail in the specification, marked, and slipped into the clamping sleeve with the mark lined up with one of the measuring surfaces depending upon which method of measurement was used. This arrangement thus provides a more accurate means for measuring, and avoids possible mistakes which sometimes occur by reasonof failure to take into account various factors involved in preparing the shade for cutting. y

Further objects and features of the invention are more fully disclosed in the description with reference to the accompanying drawings disclosing a preferred embodiment of the invention so that those skilled in the art will comprehend readily the various modifications to which the invention is susceptible` In the drawings:

Figure l is a general side elevation of the shade cutter with the clamping sleeve in clamped position.

Figure 2 is an end view projected from Figure l further illustrating the tool.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3 3, Figure 2,` detailing the structural details of the tool.

Figure 4 is an enlarged end view similar to Figure 6 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the clamping sleeve in unclampevd position with a rolled shade positioned in the sleeve preparatory to clamping and trimming it.

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken on line 7 1, Figure 6, illustrating the relationship of the clamping sleeve jaws in unclamped position.y

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 taken on line 8 8, Figure 1, showing the jaws in clamped position.

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross sectional. view taken on line 9 9, Figure 3, detailing the crimped attachment of the sleeve jaws to the spring strip.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line iB l, Figure 4, detailing the hasp for clamping the knife to the cutter arm..

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing a profile development of the reference face of the cutter housing in conjunction with the shade and knife to illustrate the method of measuring and cutting the shades.

. Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating thev several methods of measuring the shades in accordance withthe reference face shown in Figure 11.

In general, theshade cutter constitutes a cutting head I and a clamping sleeve or chuck lr6, rotatably mounted on the head and arranged to clamp the shade securely in longitudinal adjustment to be rotated relative to the cutting head during the cutting operation. The shade cutter is designed primarily for cutting to length paper window shades which are rolled upon tubular shade rollers made from ber or rolled paper stock. These shade and roller units are supplied to the consumer with metall caps pressed into the opposite ends of the roller tube, one of which mounts a round trunnion pin and the other of which includes a flat spear forming a part of the usual spring motor assembly for winding the shade. Prior to the cutting operation, the round pin and plug unit is pulled from the roller tube, and the rolled shade is measured and marked as hereinafter disclosed. With the shade rolled in straight condition uponits roller, the unit is slipped into the clamping sleeve I6 as shown in Figure 6, with the end to be trimmed 01T projecting beyond the cutting head I5. The sleeve is grasped inone hand and the cutting head in the other and the sleeveis rotated slowly whilea cutting blade mounted in the head is swung in an arc manually to ksever the end of the shade.

The tool can be used also in cutting shades without rollers by inserting a wooden dowel in the rolled shade to hold it in shape, then clamping the shade in the sleeve and performing the cutting operation in the above manner. Clothor paper shades mounted on wooden rollers also can be trimmed inl this manner, in which case the cutting operation is discontinued when the cutting tool encounters the roller. In each of these instances, the cut is` sharp and accurate so that the trimmed edge of the shade presents a straight, clean edge.

Described particularlyv with reference to Figures 3 and 4, the cutting head l5 is provided with a pivotally mounted .arm IJ which carries a. knife I8. Rotatably mounted. upon one side of the head is the compressible clamping sleeve .16,which is kclamped and unclamped by Ymeans of a slide plate l9.tohold the shade firmly Yin adjusted position during rotation. The cutting head I5 constitutes a base plate 2), preferably formed from a sheet metal stamping having a central aperture 2| for journalling the clamping sleeve I6. As shown, the cutting arm I'I also is formed from a sheet metal stamping, generally arcuate in shape, having its upper end pivotally mounted upon the base plate by means of a shoulder screw 22. The lower end of the arm extends downwardly beyond the cutting head as at 23 to constitute a handle member arranged to receive the hand grip 24. In the present structure, the grip member is formed from a suitable plastic material which is molded as a unit, slipped upon the extension 23 and secured by a screw 2,5' threaded into the extension. To provide a comfortable hand hold, one side of the grip, as viewed in Figure 2, is corrugated to form depressions for the fingers. The swinging arm is maintained normally in the retracted position shown, by a torsion spring constituting a coil 2E, having one end bent to form a hook 21 anchored in an aperture 28 in the base plate. Iheopposite end of the spring includes a limb 30 engaged behind a tang 3l struck outwardly from the edge of arm Il. During the' cutting operation the operator swings the arm manually in a direction counter to the spring torque into the rotating shade.

As shown in Figure 3, the shoulder screw 22, upon which the arm Il' is pivoted, includes ahead 3 3 located to the outside of plate 20 and having a large diameter shank 34 rotatably journalled in a bearing aperture formed in the-base plate. A nut 35 is threaded upon the small diameter shank 36 at the'opposite end of the screw and there is provided a washer 3'! and one orvmore relatively thin washer shims 38, located between the end of shank 34 and washer 31. The shims control clearance so that nut 35 may be tightened securely against the arm to draw the entire assemblyrigidly against shoulder of shank 34, with a slight running clearance between base plate 20 and washer 31 to prevent binding. As shown inFigure 4, the swinging end of arm i1 is guided in its path of swing by an arcuate guide strip 3S pressed outwardly from the inner face ofbase plate 20. This takes up looseness and causes the knife to travel in an accurate straight path, at right angles to the axis of the shade. Strip 39 includes a tang 48 at its left end, serving asa stop to engage arm il at its inward limit of travel.

The knife I8 is mounted uponthe arm l'by a hasp 4i (Figures 4 and 10), secured by screws 42 and 43 threaded into thearm. The hasp includes a depression 134 in its intermediate portion and the arm includes a depression 45, conforming in shape tothe outline of the knife. Depression 45 provides a seat for the knife which is clamped securely therein by the depressed area 44 of the hasp, when the screws are tightened. As shown in broken lines in Figure 4, the lower end of the hasp is provided with a slot 4S arranged to hook upon the shank of screw 43. This permits replacement of blades by removing the housing, hereinafter described, and loosening the screws and swinging the hasp out of engagement with the knife. When the new blade is installed, the hasp is swung back to` theV position shown and the screws are tightened. As viewed from the side (Figure 4) the exposed cutting edge of knife I8 is disposed on an angle generally tangent to the shade and terminating in a Vpoint to facilitate the cutting operation. The knife is sharpened on the outside only, similar to a chisel as indicated at 4T to produce a clean sharp cut.

` The base plate 2l`) is provided with a cover or housing 48, which in the, preferred embodiment is molded from plastic material to present an attractive appearance. The cover includes a central aperture 49, in registry with the aperture 2| of the base plate to provide an opening for the protruding end of the shade. The cover or housing corresponds in shape to the base plate and is provided with a marginal wall 50 to enclose the cutting arm Il and associated parts and to protect the operator from being injured by the knife I8. A slot 5I is formed in the wall to pro-vide clearance for the swinging end of arm I1. The cover is secured by means of screws 52, passing through spacer collars 53 integral with wall 50 and the ends of the screws are threaded into holes tapped in the base plate. A corrugated or ribbed pad 54 is molded as part of the cover to the left of handle as viewed in Figure 2. The arrangement is such that the handle 24 can be gripped in the hand, with the thumb upon the pad to develop and control cutting pressure between fingers and thumb counter to the torque of spring 26.

The base plate is provided with a stop 55 arranged to engage a stud 55 protruding laterally from the side ofk handle grip to maintain the handle in a normal retracted position counter to the force exerted by spring 26 (Figures 5 and 7).

The cutting arm Il can be swung to an open postion by removing cover 48, then removing screw and slipping the handle grip 24 from the arm. Removal of the handle permits the arm to swing outwardly beyond its normal position under influence of the spring 26. In assembling the head, the spring can be anchored in relaxed condition and loaded by swinging the arm to its normal range of travel and installing handle grip 24.

The face of the cover 48 constitutes a reference or measuring surface for adjusting automatically the severing line with reference to a mark placed o-n the shade, following various methods of measuring. In practice, the shade is measured and marked, then positioned in the clamping sleeve i6 with the mark in line with one of the measuring surfaces on the face of the cover. As shown in Figures 2 and 12, the major surface area of the cover is labeled Bracket or barrel and there is provided also a raised lug 60 labeled Tip to tip and a depressed area 6l labeled Cloth A developed prole of these three planes is shown diagrammatically in Figure l1 and the corresponding methods of measuring are indicated diagrammatically in Figure 12. The procedure of measuring and cutting the shade with reference to these planes or measuring surfaces is more fully disclosed hereinafter.

As shown in Figure 3, the clamping sleeve IB is mounted upon a disk 6l which is rotatably mounted in the aperture 2i of the base plate so as to sustain the sleeve in axial alignment with the aperture. Disk 6l is mounted by means of a spun ring E2, having a flange 63 engaged against the inner surface of base plate 2U. In

.its condition before assembly, ring 62 includes a counterturned portion to receive disk 6i and toprovide a shoulder (i4 against which the disk is seated, with running clearance between the disk and base plate. The ring and disk are assembled permanently by spinning the counter'turned portion over upon the disk as shown, forming the curl 65 which clinches the disk to the ring.

The sleeve assembly i6 is rigidly secured to disk 6i by means of a crescent shaped plate 66 (Figures 7 and 8) which is secured to the disk liO 6 by means of screws 61 passing through slots B in plate B6, thescrews being threaded into holes tapped into disk 15|.vv Thesleeve assembly is secured permanently to plate 66 bymeans of a flange 69 which is spot welded'asat vIl to plate 6B. Flange 69 is an integral part of the sheet metal lower jaw '12'of clamping sleeve IS and reinforcing ribs l0 extend angularly between the ange and jaw. It will be observed that Ijaw 'I2 is fixed relative to the aperture 2| while theupper jaw 'I3 is movable relative to the lower jaw. The two j'aws'are joined together by a spring strip 14, the edges of the jaws being doubled over as at T5 (Figure 9) upon the lapped edge 'I6 of the spring strip. The lapped joint thus formed is clinched into permanent union by pressing a series of dents 'H into the edge o-f the jaws to squeeze and deform the lapped edge 'I6 into rigid engagement with the spring strip. This practice is followed because it has no effect upon the resilient quality of spring strip '14, such as would follow were the jaws welded to the strip. The spring strip yieldably urges the jaws into open position when .the slide plate vIii is re tracted.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, each jaw 'i2 and I3 is substantially in duplicate, each constituting generally a V-shaped trough member, coop-erating to provide -a four point clamping engagement with the rolled shade. By virtue of this arrangement, the sha-de is deformed slightly under clam-ping pressure to prevent rotation during the cutting operation. They shade is clamped in the sleeve in the manner shown in Figure 6, the free edges of the jaws l2 and 'I3 being engaged by the slide plate I9 to wedge the jaws tow-ard each other when the slide plate is shifted tothe right as indicated by the arrow. The slide plate IS has a straight edge "It joined to the lower jaw 'I2 and a longitudinally inclined edge 80, joined to the upper jaw 'i3 such that the upper jaw is drawn downwardly toward the lower by wedging action.

The lower edge 'i3 of the slide plate I9 constitutes a runner 8l (Figure 7), formed by bending the edge of the slide plate inwardly at an angle. Runner 8i mates with a similar runner 82, formed in the lower jaw by bending the edge of the jaw outwardly to establish a sliding connection between the yplate and jaw. The plate is locked permanently to the lower jaw by a rail 83, spot welded as at 84 to the jaw, having a spaced flange 85 arranged to slidably engage a lug 8G formed at the inner end of slide plate IS. This lug is locked between the jaw 72 and flange 85 to prevent removal of the slide from the -jaw and permit the slide plate to shift longtudin-ally relative to the jaw. In order to prevent endwise withdrawal of the slide from the jaw, the outer end of jaw 72 is bent angularly as at 81 (Figure 6), to engage the lug 8G at its outermost limit of travel.

The upper jaw i3 includes a runner 88 similar to runner 82 of the lower jaw and the inclined edge 8i) of slide. I 9 includes a mating runner 89. The upper jaw further is provided with a secondary rail or runner Si) adapted to slidably engage the slide runner 89 for smaller diameter shade units. Runner B8 and yrail 90, as shown in Figure 6, are inclined longitudinally corresponding to the inclinedrunner 39. of slide i9 so as to develop the clamping action upon the shade when theslide plate is shifted to the right. Runner 90 includes a flange 92, -secured to the upper jaw 73 by means of spot welding, indicated at 9.3 (Figure 6).

ner 8.8 and.; engaged-upon the secondary runner 90 ,if theY diameter off the shade so requires,

simply depressing the .upper-rrjaw 'la-sufficiently y and; a.,y ribS iis pressed outwardly at the `juncture of the gplate and fnger hold-'for stifiening `purposes. I t will ,-be, observed. thatthe inner end of slide IQgfis flaredupwardlyas atrSfl, andthe inner andf outer ends of jawsl 'l2 and. i3' like-.-

wisegara flared-as at- 93 to protect the shade fromY damage; asy itis` slipped into and outv of the-.clamping sleeve.v For convenience inplacing theshade in theclamping sleeve,` the outer-endv oflower `jaw `.Hf-extends `somewhat beyond the endI ofl the upper jaw asat 99 to serve as a guide when the-shade is inserted `in the sleeve.

Theshade cutter isA intended :for use lin retail. stores incuttingftheshadesto requiredsize and.y

also for usey in the home bythe householder. In either event, the arrangement of the measuring surfaces on the cutting headcover, as above noted, simplies the operation and. prevents mistakes -inv cutting. The procedure is best disclosed with referenceto .the profile development of FigureV 1l, showing the measuring. surfaces, thej relationship of the cutting blade to the surfaces, anda-.shade 188. inrpositionforcutting.

Therefare-three-general methods of. measuring vthesliaderas illustratedin Figure l2, which are-corelatedv to the three measuring surfaces. In replacing l shades, the measurements may- .be taken4V either from..tip to tip, .from-bracket to bracket, the-widthof the shade.- cloth.\itself,.,may be measured,.or alternatively, the'old shadesmay be duplicated. Themeasuring surfacesv compensate automatically for` the` difference in length as required by these methods. By way of. example, thediagram in Figure ll illustrates a shade which is.to `be cut accordingtoa tip to tip measurement. In ythis instance, a rolled shade nearestto` that-lengthis selected, measured from the tip ofthe, spear HH Vand marked' as at i02jaccording tothe tip to tip dimensionY ofthe old shade. The roundpin and plug -unit lil-3 is withdrawn from vthe marked endv and-the shade isslpped intoA the'clamping sleeve and adjusted longitudinally until the mark l2- is'in3alignmentewith ,the tip to tip lug 50. The; knife I 8 is locatedu inwardly -a fixedy distance Y from the outer surface ofjthe lugil such-that the distance A, i'om ma1kll)2-to knife I8, correspondsto'the overall'leng-tlfi-of-y the pin and plug unit- |03 as indicated at AL Thus, the rolled shade is cut somewhat-shorter than the actual measurement by the distance A so that the` new shade .will correspond.- in length to the old one when the pin and plug unit is replaced since the unit measurement A is equal to A.

The bracket-or barrel plane ofthe cover likewise compensates for the pin and plug assembly so that the shade is cutl shorter than the actual measurement; adistance `corresponding to the distance Bbetween thecover surface 481and-cut ting blade lli; correspondingv to the distance B' of the pin and plug unit.. When. the plug unit is. replaced .in thev shade after cutting, the bracketor. barrel measurement will correspond to that/of. the oldshade. The cloth surface or plane lies substantially. in .the same .planecf The: inclinedrunner 39.V of the `Slide. plate 1.9.' mary-.bef disengaged .from run.-l

veni.ent-method` is tov place the motor end of.

the shade` (spear. wl.) in its-bracket.. then` to mark` theshade by-rubbing it against the,`f-ront` of theopposite bracket. The shadejsthenslip.-

pedinto .the clamping. sleeve. with'. the pin and.

plug unit |3..removed, adjusted longitudinallyvvto align the mark. with thev bracketor barrel surface and severed; When the .pin and plugv unit` is replaced, the shade. will nt' accurately betweenits brackets.

In thecutting operation, ,the `clamping sleeve.

is opened .by shifting the slide platev I9 to the left` as viewed inFigure v6' and the. shade .then is slipped into the sleeve with the, hem down and slatremoved. Theshade isadjusted to line up .the-mark 10,2, with the4 proper measuring,v surface asabovenoted, andthe sleeveis clamped;

by shifting the-slide plate IB to theleftwas far as it will go., If. the first ,runner 88does, not

draw the clampsecurely, the slide is retracted:

and engaged over the secondary runner Sjand shifted to clamping position. The ,handle grip 2.4 is graspedinthe righthand'with the thumb resting .uponthepad 54 and the sleeve is .turned with` the `left hand. in a .direction toward the. operator, thatis, in the shade wind-up direction as shown in Figure 5; While-turningthe clamp;- ing sleeve, the thumb. is squeezed' toward the handle Agently to swing the knife I8' into cutting engagement with the shade.

Since the operator ,sensitively` controls knife feedf and shade rotation, feeding pressure may be increased.v orY decreased according to turning resistance 4to produce a cleancut. As-the knife approaches the, insidediameter of"the.tubular roller |911 (Figure 5), feeding pressure shouldbe reducedsothatthe knife does notbreak through the tube and cause aragged edge. When. the roller is severed, the clamp slide isretracted'gto release theshade andthe pinand plug uniti3 ispressed into the severedend.

By virtue of the chisel type cuttingedge 41; the severed shade is.progressivelyfed'outwardly during. the cutting o peration. Also, this defiects the knife andarm. laterally toward the guide surface, 39 andf draws .the clamping, sleeve toward the knife totake up any. loosenessbetween sleeveand armtoproducea clean straight cut.

Having.. describedmy invention, .I claim:

i. Anand toolfor cutting a rolled window shadeandtubular roller, comprising, acutting headhaving means forclamping ashadefor rotation with the shadecenteredr andnxed longitudinally. relativeY toA the head, a cutting knife .moyablymountedon thecutting headadapted to beiedmanually `through the shade duringwrotatonthereofj to .sever the same, spring" means for urging the cutting .knife normally. in a retracted position, and' cooperating hand` gripping means on the knife .andjcutting head respectively arrangedtofeed theknife toward'the shade with one handduringthe cutting operation counter to .the force ofthe springV means.

2.' A handv tool for cutting arolled window shade and roller. comprising, a cutting-head'having a rshade clamping sleeve4 rotatably Vmounted thereon arrangedgtoV clamp a shade-for-rotation with the `shade centered andixedlongitudinally relative to the head, a cutting arm pivotally mounted on the` cutting head including ,aknife adapted' to :be fed manually throughthe shade l cutting head having a shade clamping sleeve rotatably mounted thereon the sleeve constituting a hand grip unit arranged to clamp a shade and roller for manual rotation ywith the shade centered and fixed longitudinally relative to the cutting head, a cutting arm including a knife pivotally mounted relative to the head. and arranged to swing in an arc relative to the shade to sever the same during rotation thereof, spring meansl for urging the knife normally to a retracted position, the knife having a cutting edge disposed substantially at a tangent to the circumference of the shade when the knife is withdrawn from the shade to said retracted position, the said cut- `ting edge terminating in a point, and cooperating hand gripping elements on the cutting head and cutting arm respectively for'swinging the knife into the shade during rotation thereof to control the feed of the knife through the shade and tubular roller.

e. A hand tool for cutting an end from a rolled window shade and tubular roller comprising; a cutting head having a shade clamping-sleeve rotatably mounted thereon the sleeve constituting a hand grip unit arranged to clamp a shade and roller for manual rotation with the shade centeredand fixed longitudinally relative to the cutting head, a cutting arm including a knife pivotally mounted relative to the head and arranged to swing in an arc relative to the shade to sever the same during rotation thereof, spring means for urging the knife normally to a retracted position, the knife having a cutting edge disposed substantially at a tangent to the circumference of the shade when the knife is withdrawn from the shade to said retracted position, the cutting edge of the knife being ground on one side only to provide a cutting action at right angles to the axis of the shade to develop a straight cut, and cooperating gripping elements respectively on the cutting head and cutting arm respectively for swinging the knife into the shade with one hand during rotation thereof to control the feed of the knife through the shade and tubular roller.

5. A hand tool for cutting an end from a rolled window shade and roller in a single operation comprising; a cutting head having a shade clamping sleeve mounted thereon for manual rotation and arranged to clamp a shade for rotation with the shade centered and fixed longitudinally relative to the cutting head, a cutting knife pivotally mounted on the cutting head and arranged to swing in an arc relative to the shade to sever the end thereof during rotation of the shade, spring means for urging the cutting knife normally to a retracted position, the sleeve constituting a pair of elongated jaws, one of said jaws being rotatably mounted relative to the cutting head and a second jaw secured to the first and movable relative thereto, a spring strip connecting the said jaws along their adjacent longitudinal edges, an inclined slide plate slidably connected to the opposite adjacent edges of the respective jaws and adapted to wedgevthe movable jaw relative to the fixed'jawfor 4clamping the shade therebetween the said clamping sleeve thereby forming a hand grip unit surrounding the shade and providing an irregular gripping surface, the cutting head and knife having cooperating gripping means arranged to feed the knife into the shade with one hand while the clamping sleeve is rotated with the other hand during the cutting operation.

6. A hand tool for trimming an end from a tubular shade roller and shade rolled` thereon comprising, a cutting head formed from Aa sheet metal plate having an aperture therein to receive the end to be cut from the shade, a cutting arm pivotally mounted onsaid plate and includvshade centered and fixed longitudinallyrelative to the knife, the sleeve constituting a hand grip unit having fixed jaw and a movablejaw-connected to the fixed jaw for clamping the shade, said fixed jaw being secured upon adisk having an aperture therein matching the aperture in said cutting head plate, said disk being rotatably mounted upon the cutting head plate by means of a deformable ring journalled .in the aperture of the cutting head plate,` extending through the aperture in the dis'kand clinched upon said disk to establish a rotatable connection between the disk and cutting head plate, the-cutting head having thumb engaging means cooperating with the cutting arm arranged to feed the knife toward the shade roller with one hand while the clamping sleeve is rotated with the other hand during the trimming operation, l

7. lA hand tool for trimming an end from a rolled window shade by rotating the shade relative to a cutting tool comprising;v a cutting head, a sleeve adapted to Vclamp an end of the shade for rotating the shade centered and fixed llongitudinally relative to the cutting head, a cutting arm pivotally mounted on the cutting head and arranged to swing in an arc during the cutting operation, a knife mounted upon the cutting arm, a torsion spring disposed upon the pivotal end of the cutting arm, the spring having an end anchored upon the cutting head with its opposite end engaged with the arm to urge said arm to a, retracted position, the cutting arm including an extension at its swinging end, a removable handle grip secured to said extension, a stop element extending laterally from the handle grip, a spur formed on the cutting head adapted to engage said stop element to maintain the cutting arm in retracted position counter to the force exerted by the torsion spring.

8. A hand tool for trimming an end from a rolled window shade by'rotating the shade relative to a cutting tool comprising; a cutting head, a sleeve adapted to clamp an `end of the shade for rotatingthe shade centered and fixed longitudinally relative to the cutting head, a cutting arm having its upper end pivotally mounted on the cutting head and arranged to swing in an arc during the cutting operation, a lmife mounted upon the cutting arm, spring means connecting the cutting arm to the cutting head and adapted to urge said arm to a retracted position, the cutting arm including a handle extension at its swinging end-a thumb pad on the cutting head arranged to cooperate with the cutting arm to feed the cutting knife toward a shade when 'sleeve `forming a yhand' grip' unit arranged to be 4rotated lwith the other hand during the 'trimming operation and alguide -rail'forrnedin the cutting .head arranged Vtocontact the swingingend of the cutting'arm to guide the arm ina fixed plane of movement at rightangles to the axis Vof the shade.

9. A hand tool ,for trimming an end from a rolled -window'shade by rotating the shade relative to a cutting tool'comprising; a cutting head, a 'clamping sleeve'adapted to clamp an end of the shade for rotating the shade centered and fixed longitudinally relative to the cutting head, a cutting arm vhaving its `upper end pivotally mounted on lthe cutting head, and arranged to 'swing in anarc-during'the cutting operation, a knife mounted upon the cutting arm, a-'t'orsion spring disposed Aupon the Vpivotal end of the cutting arm vand arranged to urge said arm to a.

retracted position, the cutting arm including an "extension 'at its swinging -end having -a hand grip Asecured thereto, stop means adapted to maintain the cutting arm in retracted position, a thumb pad on said cutting head cooperating with the handgrip vfor vfeeding the knife into the shade with one hand counter to the force of the torsion spring, said clamping sleeve being arranged to be grasped by the other hand for rotation during the cutting operation.

10. A hand operated tool for cutting the end Vof a 4window'shade comprising; a Acutting head, a 'cutting arm and knife pivotally mounted upon said head for severing the shade Yduring rotation -thereof, a'clamping `sleeve journalled in the head and-'adaptedto'loe manually rotated with a shade clamped inxed longitudinal relationship to the knife, a housing'secured upon the opposite side of said plate enclosing said lcutting arm and' knife, a thumb pad on the housing cooperating with the cutting `arm to feed the knife toward the shade with one hand during the cutting operation, the housing having a plurality of measuring surfaces ldisplaced in steps from the plane of the knife, 4vsaid measuring surfaces-providing reference -points -for .alignment with a Ia Vwindow shade comprising, a -cutting'head, a cutting arm and yknife pivotally'rnounted upon said head for severing the shade during Arotation thereof, a clamping sleeve journalled in the head and adapted Vto 'be' rotated manually with a shade clamped in fixed longitudinal relationship to the plane of the knife, `a housing secured upon the loppositeside of said plate `enclosing said cutting -arm and knife, a4 thumb pad jon the housing cooperatingWith'the-cutting arm to lfeed the knife toward the fshade ywithohe hand/during the cutting operation, said'fcover -plate `fhaving an aperture for receivingjthe -end Ato be cut'ff-romthe shade and having a i'pluralit-y of vmeasuring surfaces disposed around the aperture displaced in steps from the plane-of the knife, said-measuring surfaces providing reference points -for Aaligning a measured Apoint yon the shade therewith, thereby vto sever the shade -at a lpredetern'iined distance from the measured point.

RROBEPRIV W;

` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

